Screen issue on my 15 inch Mid-2012 Non-Retina HD MacBook Pro. Occurs after entering password to wake up from sleep. Generally happens once every 2-3 weeks, though it has happened on consecutive days once. Attempted fixes as recommended/performed by Apple Store Geniuses have included an operating system reinstall, changing sleep/wake settings, and a complete hard drive wipe/Time Machine restore.

First half of the video below shows the glitch in general, second shows what happens when the "New Screen Recording" window is opened in Quicktime. Note that the recording doesn't need to be starting for the glitch to be temporarily fixed. I'm sure this gives some indication to where in the software/hardware chain the problem is occurring, but I don't have the experience and I can't find anything about this specific glitch on the internet. I didn't know of the Quicktime "fix" when I brought the computer into the store.

Basically looking for any information I can get. I don't have easy access to an Apple Store, but I will be able to stop by one for no more than an hour or two about three weeks from now. Ideally I'd try a complete wipe and run the computer as close to blank as possible, but because I need the computer for school/work, and the glitch may not occur for over a month, I find that unfeasable unless no other option is found. The last Genius I took the computer to indicated that if the wipe/TM restore didn't fix the issue, the next step would be to send it off to Apple for diagnostic tests. How does this process work? Can I leave the computer at a store to be shipped off, then have it sent to my home address when tests are complete?

Go to apple, ask them to exchange both the Logic board and the screen, They must use a online test called MRI and they can check it, also show them your video. Normally I would ask for the Display, but sometimes both need to be exchanged, BE POLITE, offer all the info and tell them that you already have had some fixes and you have come back to square one.

Let me know how it goes, but I am almost certain that the MLB or the screen are at fault... maybe both.

Thanks TRB. I ran the Apple Hardware Test http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11342 today and it didn't turn up anything. Also went into energy saver settings and told the computer to run on the graphics card all the time when plugged in, as opposed to switching back and forth. Just trying to find something that may give any additional information.

The 2012 15 inch machines have video board problems. My colleague had a lot of red dots appear on the screen sometimes. The ONLY way to address it was to send it away for approx 1-2 weeks. Point is, to let them solve the issue, you need to physically give them the computer, no way around that. You can't expect a technician to fly to you.

Thanks Flighty. Good to hear that you've seen a similar issue. I've seen many video of assorted screen problems with the retina MacBook Pro, but nothing on the non-retina like mine is. Also never seen a video of a screen issue that looks like mine, on any computer.

Quoting Flighty (Reply 3):Point is, to let them solve the issue, you need to physically give them the computer, no way around that. You can't expect a technician to fly to you.

That's fine, I wasn't expecting that. Just wanted to make sure that I could drop it off at the store in person and have it shipped back to me after it's been fixed/replaced rather than having to pick it up in store.

Quoting Kaphias (Reply 4):That's fine, I wasn't expecting that. Just wanted to make sure that I could drop it off at the store in person and have it shipped back to me after it's been fixed/replaced rather than having to pick it up in store.

Not sure about that, but they should be able to. If they pose any problems call up AppleCare.

You can also call AppleCare (1-800-275-2273) and ask for them to ship you a box. You'll send the computer to them and they'll send it back, alleviating the need for a Genius Bar visit.

Quoting Braniff747SP (Reply 5):You can also call AppleCare (1-800-275-2273) and ask for them to ship you a box. You'll send the computer to them and they'll send it back, alleviating the need for a Genius Bar visit.

Didn't know about this, good to hear. Will be useful in case they can't get it fixed first go. Thanks!

Quoting Flighty (Reply 3):
The 2012 15 inch machines have video board problems. My colleague had a lot of red dots appear on the screen sometimes. The ONLY way to address it was to send it away for approx 1-2 weeks. Point is, to let them solve the issue, you need to physically give them the computer, no way around that. You can't expect a technician to fly to you.

I thought they had fixed all of that. My 2007 MBP's video card/mainboard went kaput a couple of years back. I was India, i thought i couldnt get it fixed. Luckily Apple had a worldwide service directive for the video card so i schelped it to the local Apple store and had it fixed for free . Since then i havent had any problems, but apparently it really cant be fixed anyways.

Quoting CaliAtenza (Reply 7):I thought they had fixed all of that. My 2007 MBP's video card/mainboard went kaput a couple of years back. I was India, i thought i couldnt get it fixed. Luckily Apple had a worldwide service directive for the video card so i schelped it to the local Apple store and had it fixed for free . Since then i havent had any problems, but apparently it really cant be fixed anyways.

I think this new bout of screen issues appeared with the new retina MacBook Pros, and is probably unrelated to what was happening to your machine. Of course that's what's confusing me with my machine, is the fact that it's NOT a retina MBP and is still having a screen issue. Not the same issue, but still...

Quoting Kaphias (Reply 8):
I think this new bout of screen issues appeared with the new retina MacBook Pros, and is probably unrelated to what was happening to your machine. Of course that's what's confusing me with my machine, is the fact that it's NOT a retina MBP and is still having a screen issue. Not the same issue, but still...

Do you have the NVIDIA video chip or the ATI Radeon? That will narrow down the problem i think.

Quoting CaliAtenza (Reply 7): I thought they had fixed all of that. My 2007 MBP's video card/mainboard went kaput a couple of years back. I was India, i thought i couldnt get it fixed. Luckily Apple had a worldwide service directive for the video card so i schelped it to the local Apple store and had it fixed for free . Since then i havent had any problems, but apparently it really cant be fixed anyways.

You're talking about the 2007-2008 Santa Rosa / Penryn NVIDIA chip issue which resulted in a worldwide recall which finished in January 2011. We see about 30-50 of those units a month with that problem, truly awful.

Quoting idealstandard (Reply 11):
You're talking about the 2007-2008 Santa Rosa / Penryn NVIDIA chip issue which resulted in a worldwide recall which finished in January 2011. We see about 30-50 of those units a month with that problem, truly awful.

Thats right, i have one of those old Santa Rosa girls. She ran beautiful for years, until one day the screen just started displaying scrambled colors and numbers. I knew what the problem was. She was fixed though and now is running great . I am on my desktop these days, so i dont use the laptop much...but maybe i should.

It's under the one year warranty until early July, which is why I'm a little concerned about it not getting fixed on the first try. If they do end up sending me a completely new computer, as doubtful as that seems, would I get a new one year warranty or would it fall under the old one?

This is very clearly not a display issue but one with or between the graphics processors.

The 15" MBP switches between the CPU-internal ("integrated") and the external GPU to save power at rest but to still provide high performance when needed. For this, the image just generated by the currently active GPU is copied over to the respective other GPU when a transition is made, then the output is switched to the other GPU. If that copying doesn't work properly, the "old" screen content can re-appear after the switch.

It looks as if in your machine that switching back and forth doesn't work properly. And if this happens that way on a freshly installed unit without any weird driver modifications, it can be (at least) one of the following, in descending order of likelihood:

You may want to try swapping in other suitable RAM to see if that changes things.

You may also want to select Better battery life under Graphics: in the Energy Saver control panel which disables automatic switching and only uses the internal GPU. If that makes the artefacts go away, it's a pretty strong indication that the external GPU or the communication with it is at fault.

If things work well if you use only the internal or only the external GPU and the artefacts only occur when automatic switching (the system default) is active, that would allow for manual workarounds but a repair would still be advisable.

Thanks Klaus. Repair was done a week ago, they replaced the logic board. I figure at this point, if it happens again, I'll play with the energy settings as you suggested or wipe the HD and selectively bring some files back over to reduce the change of it being as software issue, per Apple's recommendations.